A Boost For The Welsh Language - A Plan To Strengthen Welsh Speaking Areas (Y Fro Gymraeg)

In an article entitled "A Boost For the Welsh Speaking Heartland ",  the website "Click on Wales" reports on an announcement made by the Chair of a Welsh Government Policy Group on to increase the number of communities where Welsh is spoken as the main language. These recommenations along with the group's members are listed below.

Dr. Rhodi Llwyd Morgan, Pro Vice-Chancellor at Aberystwyth University with responsibility for the Welsh Language and Culture, made the announcement in his role as the Chair of the Policy Group. Dr. Morgan made the following statement:

Over the past 18 months I have been chairing a Welsh Government Policy Group tasked with producing a plan for increasing the number of communities where Welsh is spoken as the main language. While we await further progress on implementing the Welsh Language measure of 2011, the Group focused on the major socio-economic challenges and by our recommended Plan sought to enable significant change to the demography of the Welsh Language in the higher percentage areas (Y Fro Gymraeg). The necessary changes would include growing the economy, facilitating attractive family life and providing the best opportunity for the younger generation in particular to be bi-lingual and able to choose to live their lives in Welsh.

Promoting Welsh in the Heartlands: Main Recommendations

 (1) Promote the development of Bangor, Aberystwyth and Carmarthen as city regions – to dovetail economic regeneration and infrastructure improvements with language growth.

(2) Make regional planning beneficial for the Welsh language – Welsh Government to second experienced teams to mainstream the Welsh language as a clear element of its principal economic development strategies.

(3) Make education provision for 3-14 year olds consistent across Anglesey, Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire so that all pupils become fluent in both Welsh and English – examine the practicality of expanding Gwynedd’s latecomer provision across the area.

(4) Promote social and informal use of Welsh in collaboration with schools and communities – appoint community officers to create a bridge between the school and the community.

(5) Encourage people to take part in activities and socialise in Welsh by supporting organisations and societies and by taking new initiatives.Welsh

(6) Government, local authorities, health boards and higher education institutions to establish targets to increase the number of bilingual employees.

(7) Welsh Government to establish six ‘Welsh Language Promotion’ schemes – following the pattern of the Aman Tawe pilot – in areas of particular linguistic significance. 

Working Group Membership 

• Dr Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Welsh Language and Culture, and External Engagement at Aberystwyth University (Chair)
• Sali Burns, Member of Welsh Language Partnership Council and employed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
• Cllr Dyfed Edwards, Leader of Gwynedd Council and Spokesperson for the Welsh Language, WLGA.
• Owain Gruffydd, Member of Welsh Language Partnership Council, Chief Executive of Menter Iaith Bro Dinefwr.
• Lynne Reynolds, Wales Council for Voluntary Action.
• Elin Rhys, Director of Telesgop and Chair of Task and Finish Group on Welsh Language and Economy
• Professor Elan Closs Stephens, BBC Trustee for Wales and former Chair of S4C.

http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/news/archive/2013/06/title-135968-en.html

http://www.clickonwales.org/2013/12/a-boost-for-the-welsh-speaking-heartland/